Judge, Jury, Executioner.

A stroke of confidence had shown itself when Reggie saw the naked pain on the other’s face. Oh, that’s good to know. Backfires can happen, and it seemed to do a good number on his assailant. Who was charging at him right now; Reggie’s shoulders and back tensing in preparation for the impact. He only had so much water, the material in question gathering in his hand with a flick of his wrist, the power humming under his skin in a way that always makes him want to shudder.

“Done playing games now huh?”

The crooked Sheriff gives a sharp inhale, hand curling into a fist as the other gets closer, faster, until Reggie has no choice but to throw his fist and prepare for the hit.

He doesn’t care to grace the other with an answer, instead focusing too much on trying to avoid any kind of retaliatory attack that might come his way. This was never a game to him; games were fun, they were mindless-- but this? This was Shane’s self-proclaimed duty, and he’ll do what he swore he’d do or die trying. Above all else, keeping his left hand dry was now his priority; if it gets hit, he’s probably going without most of his powers for the remainder of the fight.

And he doesn’t like his odds of surviving if that happens.

❛  —— claire redfield , you’re coming with us !  ❜ she’d only ventured into the bathroom to consume her morning dose of medication , but what should have been a straightforward task had transitioned into a mental  ORDEAL . naturally , her first instinct after the glass of water had slipped between her digits was to clear the mess up from the floor , but the instantaneous sound had cast her mind back to that particular day. palm absentmindedly encloses around a shard whilst she squeezes , the voices && images FLASHING  before her eyes as blood oozes between her fingers &&down onto her wrist. ❪  swallow the pills claire , make the pain go away — YOU’RE WEAK.  ❫ crimson smears stain her countenance as she places her head in her hands , digits trembling as she perceives her chest growing  HEAVY . she wants to cry , scream — but there’s no audible words , only hyperventilating breathes that cause everything to zone out into a confusing blur. the price of being a SURVIVOR — a heavy price to pay indeed.

Claire’s struggles were more visible than she realised, and because of that, the sound of shattering glass no longer startled him. It’s just another day - yet still, Shane can hear her struggling to breathe, and the way it sets his heart racing concerns him (it means he’s getting too attached; clinging too much onto someone yet again). He doesn’t want to get himself hurt by allowing himself to care for her, but they probably both got too deep when they started sharing a bed.

He approaches her slowly, taking care to not startle her and send her state into an even worse mess, and then pulls the glass shard out of her hand in one quick motion when he’s certain that she knows he’s there. The island had left too many marks on her; she’s not the same Claire that Shane first met and yet he feels compelled to see her through these dark periods of her life - it’s with this in mind that he slowly wraps his arms around her from behind, gently leaning against her shoulder and whispering soft words of reassurance into her ear.

Reggie has, and never will be, a man to pull the same tricks over and over. You get predictable that way. He’s also in an enclosed space with an uncertain amount of energy for his power, and in said enclosed space with the absolute worse combination with his powers. So he has to think differently, think of what he can do to get the other off his goddamn back. Dead would be better.

But it’ll have to wait, Reggie’s focus having to turn towards dodging, jerking one way to avoid the direct strike of lightening, feeling the after effects almost sizzle in the air and make the hairs on his arms stand up. He was playing a very dangerous game at the moment.

He fires a shot of water blindly, a wild attempt at stopping a bolt before it comes, see if the man’s powers can backfire on itself and stun him. And then what? Fucking–try to kick him out the window? At the moment, it was all he had.

He raises his hand to try and block the onslaught, and it’s the worst mistake he’s made so far. Scalding water covers his arm just as he’s about to fire another shot - and if that weren’t bad enough, Shane finally realizes firsthand just how bad a combination electricity and water of any temperature was. He wants to scream and the pain certainly would warrant it-- but his sheer hatred for the other man is enough to suppress it into nothing more than couple of curses.

It’s painfully clear that he’s not firing anything from his right hand whilst its still wet, but he also knows that he can’t linger in one place whilst there’s a possibility that he could have more hot water shot at him. Against his earlier judgement, he tries to charge Reggie’s position, his non-injured hand covered in sparks to try and hurt the guy up close and personal.

There’s a rather audible groan that escapes him upon remembering what day it is. He didn’t enjoy his own birthday as much as he used to - it only reminded him that he was getting older and well– he’s still not sure if he’ll ever get old anyway. But for her sake, he’ll at least try to maintain a positive demeanor.

Still weary eyes eventually come to rest on the note before widening in realization - so that was what was on their bed when he’d woken up, although he had barely even paid much mind to it at first. Shane goes back into the bedroom to find a smart suit waiting for him, although that’s still not as surprising a sight as his reflection in the mirror is when he changes into it, because it was a perfect fit (clearly, Claire had a knack for sizing people up without ever asking outright).

He’s waiting for Claire when she gets home, note in hand and comfortably suit-clad, moving to greet her with a kiss as she arrives.

Giving into boredom is always a bad thing for anyone when the Vagabond is around. It’s not rare for these incidents end in murder but this time it’s more on the destructive side of things. That’s why several of the cars in the street were set up with sticky bombs. “Care to join or are you just going to watch?” He asked, not bothering to look at the newcomer as he stands up from placing one under the bumper, “Because you might wanna stand far, far, away.”

——ϟ “-You getting worried that I might become collateral damage? Cute.”

He’s been around the whole time, but only started properly paying attention a couple of minutes ago when he noticed what exactly it was that the other man was toying around with. Shane’s no stranger to causing his own carnage - one could almost say that he thrived in chaos more than he did in any other situation - but causing mindless amounts of destruction simply out of boredom’s sake? It’s a line he’s not entirely comfortable with crossing.

That’s why he’s leaned back against the window of a nearby shop, an eyebrow raised in curiosity as he continues observing.

The amount of electricity in the room sent his hair on end, the flash and crackle of light sending tension to his shoulders in preparation for something. Water gathers in and around his fist until he swings his arm, almost full circle just aiming to hit anything. It was a bad decision, riding on reflex and the surge of adrenaline that comes with moments like this.

The shock that travels up his arm hurts, deep rooted and muscle spasming. It makes him dissolve into a mass of water yet again, retreating in a rush. So fast, he doesn’t think where he’s going and collides with the wall, reappearing as the water dissipates. “Fuck!” The ache is still there, Reggie resisting the urge to cradle the appendage.

He sends a glare to his now definitely enemy, taking a breath through his nose and stubbornly shaking his arm.

“Clever man.” The officer grouses, pushing off the wall. “Alright then, the fun way it is. You wanna buy some time? Let’s buy some time.”

He barely evades the full brunt of the other’s fist but it still isn’t enough to escape unharmed, the blow clipping his shoulder as he hisses slightly at the pain. It was all the confirmation he needed to know that he was dealing with someone dangerous here, and suddenly Shane’s a lot more relieved that he didn’t try and rush in for an attempt at a quick kill.

Admittedly, there’s a chill that runs down his spine when he looks up and sees the hateful glare cast in his direction, but he’s got too much pride and too big an ego to run off with his tail between his legs just because someone else has decided that he’s a threat that needs to be taken care of (besides, the feeling was mutual). He rolls his shoulder to try and ease the gentle throbbing, before straightening up again.

——ϟ “Fun way, huh? Didn’t have you down as the masochist type.”

“My kind of evil.”

A rough bark of a laugh comes from his throat; a noise he used to think couldn’t come out of him. It was so vindictive, but he had to learn. He had to believe the part and stop looking away from the messes he was making. Dark eyes stay on his new friend, head following steadily and focus unwavering.

Usually, he’d pull his gun and get it over with. This was a conduit though, even a good shot to the head would only buy him so much time. An electricity conduit? No point in trying. Reggie was playing a drawn out game now, muscles tense and power thrumming in his veins that he tried his damnedest to push down.

Most of the time.

“That’s rich. How far up your ass are you believe you can make a difference? It doesn’t matter how much justice you serve, pal. You’re the bad guy in the media. The off the rails wannabe hero who kills cops.”

——ϟ “I never said that I wanted to look good to the media, did I? I don’t need them to tell me if I’m doing a good job or not - I can work that part out for myself.”

He’s still looking for an opening, or something to exploit at a later point if nothing else. They both knew that water and electricity didn’t mix, and that such a clash didn’t typically end in the water’s favor, but Shane still knows that even with his minor advantage, he’s playing with fire, going against a man that could and probably would brutally murder him if his guard fell at all.

The other’s eyes are so focused on him that Shane isn’t entirely sure he’s watching his own back. And just like that, he finds his plan of attack.

——ϟ “You can try to pass as a good guy all you like-- won’t make a goddamn difference when word gets out that you’re dealing drugs on the side. I bet you there’ll be people trying to dig up that dirt on you as we speak, so I’m buying them some time...but that’s if I don’t just finish you off myself first.”

Water and electricity is a risky combination, the last minute wall of water Reggie produces seizing the attack, but the sensation still tingles exposed skin. If he’s not careful, his assailants strikes will shock him and lock his muscles. Or worse, knock him out and give him an opportunity.

“Most people go jump out of a plane, or cliff dive.” It’s not his best comeback, but his brain is buzzing and rushing to think of a way out. He’ll run out of juice soon enough, and then what? He just needs an opening, an opportunity of some kind, so he keeps talking. “So what are you? Some–self righteous vigilante? A guy who thinks he’s above the law?”

It was hypocritical, Reggie taking a cautious step back as slowly as he can. “Here to purge my evil from the world?”

——ϟ “I’m no more above the law than you are. But I’m doing the good guys a favor - and you aren’t.”

It’s concerning him that there’s no attempt at retaliation yet-- no blasts of water to try and sweep him off his feet or send him reeling. And quite frankly, Shane couldn’t afford to play risky. If he keeps attacking, and his target keeps defending, one of them will eventually run out of energy - but he doesn’t like his chances. Electricity drained fast when it came from his fingertips. If he runs out first, he doesn’t see himself walking away alive from this place.

And he is far from finished with this world.

So he ceases his attacks for now, slowly circling the other until he can find something to exploit, to use to his advantage. He just hopes such an opportunity will come up quickly, before he gets reckless again.

Reggie knew at some point someone would catch up with him. It was a messy business, a dangerous and enemy breeding business. A conduit, however, now that was a new one. The Sheriff turns away from the blinding flash of light, the barely there thump of a body a sound that he’s grown too used to. Poor kid. He was too loyal for his own good. Right intentions wrong direction, as Betty would say.

He doesn’t get more than a second to consider an escape route, the surge of energy and power pushing him to just react.

He’ll probably never get used to basically disintegrating, losing the sense of solidity and turning into a mass of water. The corrupt officer barely dodges the onslaught of electricity, reappearing a few feet backwards.

“You should really do your research before you pick a fight, you know.”

Well, shit. Nobody warned him that he was going up against another conduit. 

Still, he isn’t going to back out now, for the sake of his pride if nothing else - better to go down a savage than run away with his metaphorical tail between his legs, as far as he was concerned. Instead of rushing forwards again, Shane merely remains where he is, sparks crackling and dancing around his hands.

——ϟ “Well what can I say? Maybe I just like a challenge from time to time.”

Leans down to press a kiss against hers.